Niklas Savander has been part of Nokia’s top brass since 1997 before he left the company just couple of months ago. He was one of the 3 people that where candidates with Vanjoki and Elop to take the CEO spot inside Nokia.
Vanjoki left quickly after not getting the spot, while Savander promised to stay for 2 years.
According to him Nokia should have gone for Windows Phone earlier on.
The only thing that’s bothering me to this day was that we should have done the decision much earlier. But that’s easy to say now. – Savander
I’m not sure if i can agree with taking Windows Phone earlier as Nokia is still floating because of S40 and Symbian sales. Windows Phone 8 finally reworks the base of the OS so it can truly compete fully against iOS and Android, something that Nokia joining earlier would have not made come any earlier.
I do agree with him that taking stronger stance against Symbian way earlier should have been done.
Symbian had internally grown a big and bureaucratic stronghold inside Nokia that seemed to be slowing many internal projects.
We pondered Nokia’s future from all directions probably millions of times. – Savander
He does want to make clear that all options where looked from several angel and all of the members in executive team and board of directors knew that the decision was going to be just as big as the one Nokia made in early 90′s to go fully for ICT sector and leave everything else behind.
Then Savander was asked about Jolla.
No business has started big right away. – Savander
Savander himself thinks that the fight between OS’s is getting out of hands. It’s still all about the product.
Debate around the operating systems is already in the past. MeeGo is an modern operating system, like so many others. With MeeGo you can create amazing product as long as you have time, money and talent. Boys have a long road ahead of them – Savander
For a closing comments Savander wants to keep working in this same industry but wont be joining any of Nokia’s direct competitors.
Source Helsingin Sanomat
